Hinge assembly for toilet seat

ABSTRACT

A hinge assembly for attaching a toilet seat to a toilet bowl includes a plate along with a member fixed to the toilet seat with a member being pivotally attached to the plate. A slot is disposed in the plate and sized for slidably receiving a toilet bowl and mounting hole therethrough. A retainer is provided and disposed proximate the slot and a plurality of washers is included with each washer being receivable by the retainer and each washer having a mounting bolt receiving bore therethrough. At least two of the washers include offset bores therethrough in order to enable forward and backward adjustable attachment of the toilet seat to the toilet bowl with the bolt passing through one of the washer, bores, slot, and bolt mounting hole.

The present invention is generally directed to hinges for coupling a toilet seat with a toilet bowl and is more particularly directed to an adjustable hinge for mounting toilet seats and toilet covers to toilet bowls.

In view of the great number of toilet designs now available, it is not difficult to provide replacement of toilet seat covers and toilet seats which perfectly match the geometry of the toilet basin or bowl. While spacing between holes provided in vitreous China toilets are generally standard, there is often a variation in the distance between such holes and a front of the toilet bowl.

If only for aesthetic reasons, it is desirable to match the geometry of the toilet bowl with the toilet seat and cover and this includes alignment of a front edge of the toilet seat with the front of the toilet bowl.

Thus, an objective of the present invention is to enable the installation of a toilet seat and cover to a toilet bowl through a hinge assembly which provides for forward and backward adjustable attachment of the toilet seat to the toilet bowl.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A hinge assembly in accordance with the present invention for attaching a toilet seat to a toilet bowl generally includes a plate and a member fixed to the toilet seat with the member being pivotably received by a plate. This structure enables hinging of the toilet seat when attached to the toilet bowl.

The toilet bowl includes spaced apart mounting holes therein and the hinge assembly further includes a slot disposed in the plate and sized for slidably receiving a toilet bowl mounting bolt therethrough.

A retainer is provided and disposed proximate the slot and a plurality of washers are provided with each washer being receivable by the retainer and each washer having a mounting bowl receiving bore therethrough.

At least two of the washers have offset bores therethrough whereby receipt of a washer, having an offset bore by the retainer, enables forward and backward adjustment of the toilet seat to the toilet bowl upon attachment therebetween with the bolt passing through one of the washer bores, slot, and bowl mounting hole.

Preferably, the retainer in accordance with the present invention comprises a recess surrounding the slot and the recess is oblong with each washer including an oblong shape receivable by the recess.

To provide for the forward and backward adjustable attachment of the toilet seat to the toilet bowl each of the washer bores are differently offset along a longitudinal axis of each washer.

A covering and cap may be provided for covering a slot washer and the bolt for aesthetic purposes and for convenience the cap may be hingeably attached to the plate.

In this manner, the washers provide a means, receivable by the retainer, for enabling the attachment of the toilet seat to the toilet bowl with forward and backward adjustment.

In view of the fact that the hereinabove referenced member is fixed to the toilet seat preferably the invention may include the assembly which includes the hereinabove referenced apparatus in combination with a toilet seat.

A method in accordance with the present invention for attaching the toilet seat to a toilet bowl includes providing a plate and a member fixed to the toilet seat with a member being pivotably received by the plate.

In addition, the slot is provided and disposed in the plate and sized for slidably receiving this toilet bowl mounting bolt therethrough. A retainer is provided and disposed proximate the slot and a plurality of washers are provided which are receivable by the retainer for enabling attachment of the toilet seat to the toilet bowl with forward and backward adjustment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The advantages and features of the present invention will be better understood by the following description when considered in conjunction of the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the hinge assembly in accordance with the present invention generally showing a plate along with a member fixed to a toilet seat, a top of a toilet bowl, and washers and bolts for affixing the toilet seat to the toilet bowl;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a washer suitable for use in the present invention having a centered bore;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of another washer in accordance with the present invention similar to that shown in FIG. 2 only having an offset bore;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the hinge assembly and toilet seat shown in FIG. 1 illustrating mounting of the toilet seat with the hinge assembly utilizing a pair of washers having a centered bore therethrough; and

FIGS. 5-7 illustrate attachment of the hinge assembly utilizing washers with offset bores for enabling forward and backward adjustment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With reference to FIG. 1 there is shown a hinge assembly 10 for attaching a toilet seat 12 and seat cover 14 to a toilet bowl 16 which enables forward and backward adjustment attachment of the toilet seat 12 to the toilet bowl 16 as indicated by the arrow 20.

More particularly, the hinge assembly 10 includes a plate 24 along with a member 26 fixed to the toilet seat 12 with a member 26 being hingeably attached to the plate by upstanding post 28, 30.

It should be appreciated that two hinge assemblies 10, 10′ are provided for attaching the toilet seat 12 to the toilet bowl by way of spaced apart mounting holes 32, 32′, only one of the assembly 10 being described in detail inasmuch as the construction of the matching assembly 10′ is identical.

A slot 36 is disposed in the plate 24 and sized for slidably receiving a toilet bowl mounting bolt 40 therethrough.

A retainer which may be, for example, a recess 44 surrounds the slot 36 for receiving a washer 50, 52, 54, see FIG. 2-7. Each washer 48, 52, 54 includes a mounting bolt receiving bore 56, 58, 60 therethrough with at least two washers 52, 54 having offset bores 58, 60 therethrough whereby receipt of a washer 50, 52, 54 the retainer 44 enables forward and backward adjustment of the toilet seat 12 to the toilet bowl 16 as shown in FIGS. 5-7 with the bolt 40 passing through the washer bores 56, 58, 60.

Therefore, the washers 50, 52, 54 provides a means, receivable by the retainer 44, for enabling attachment of the toilet seat 12 to the toilet bowl 16 with forward and backward adjustment as indicated by the arrow 20 in FIG. 1 and across 62, 64 in FIGS. 6 and 7 respectfully.

More particularly, as shown in FIGS. 5-7 the recess 44 is oblong and each washer 50, 52, 54 includes an oblong shape which is receivable by the recess 44.

As shown in FIG. 2-7, the washer bores 56, 58 are differently offset along a longitudinal axis 66, 68 of each washer.

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 4-7 a cap 70 which may be coupled to the plate 24 through a living hinge 72 is provided for covering the slot 36, washer 56, and bolt 40.

Although there has been hereinabove described a specific hinge assembly for toilet seat in accordance with the present invention for the purpose of illustrating the manner in which the invention may be used to advantage, it should be appreciated that the invention is not limited thereto. That is, the present invention may suitably comprise, consist of, or consist essentially of the recited elements. Further, the invention illustratively disclosed herein suitably may be practiced in the absence of any element which is not specifically disclosed herein. Accordingly, any and all modifications, variations or equivalent arrangements which may occur to those skilled in the art, should be considered to be within the scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims. 

1. A hinge assembly for attaching a toilet seat to a toilet bowl, said toilet bowl having spaced apart mounting holes therein, said hinge assembly comprising: a plate; a member fixed to said toilet seat, said member being pivotably received by said plate; a slot disposed in said plate and sized for slidably receiving a toilet bowl mounting bolt therethrough; a retainer disposed proximate said slot; and a plurality of washers, each washer being receivable by said retainer and each washer having a mounting bolt receiving bore therethrough at least two washers having offset bores therethrough whereby receipt of a washer, having an offset bore, by said retainer enabling forward and backward adjustable attachment of said toilet seat to said toilet bowl with the bolt passing through one of the washer bores, slot, and bowl mounting hole.
 2. The hinge assembly according to claim 1 wherein said retainer comprises a recess surrounding said slot.
 3. The hinge assembly according to claim 2 wherein said recess is oblong and each washer includes an oblong shape receivable by the recess.
 4. The hinge assembly according to claim 3 wherein the washer bores are differently offset along a longitudinal axis of each washer.
 5. The hinge assembly according to claim 4 further comprises a slot, washer, and bolt covering cap.
 6. The hinge assembly according to claim 5 wherein the cap is hingeable attached to said plate.
 7. A hinge assembly for attaching a toilet seat to a toilet bowl, said toilet bowl having spaced apart mounting hole therein, said hinge assembly comprising: a plate; a member fixed to said toilet seat, said member being pivotably received by said plate; a slot disposed in said plate and sized for slidably receiving a toilet bowl mounting bolt therethrough; a retainer disposed proximate said slot; and washer means, receivable by said retainer, for enabling attachment of said toilet seat to said toilet bowl with forward and backward adjustment.
 8. The hinge assembly according to claim 7 wherein said retainer comprises a recess surrounding said slot.
 9. The hinge assembly according to claim 8 wherein said washer means comprises a plurality of washers, each washer being receivable by said retainer and each washer having a bore therethrough, at least two washers having differently offset bolt receiving bores therethrough.
 10. The hinge assembly according to claim 9 wherein said recess is oblong and each washer includes as oblong shape receivable by the recess.
 11. The hinge assembly according to claim 10 wherein the washer bores are differently offset along a longitudinal axis of each washer.
 12. The hinge assembly according to claim 11 further comprising a slot, washer, and bolt covering cap.
 13. The hinge assembly according to claim 12 wherein the cap is hingeable attachment to said cap.
 14. A toilet seat and hinge assembly for a toilet bowl having spaced apart mounting hole therein, said hinge assembly comprising: a toilet seat; a plate; a member fixed to said toilet seat, said member being pivotably received by said plate; a slot disposed in said plate and sized for slidably receiving a toilet bowl mounting bolt therethrough; a retainer disposed proximate said slot; and washer means, receivable by said retainer, for enabling attachment of said toilet seat to said toilet bowl with forward and backward adjustment.
 15. The hinge assembly according to claim 14 wherein said retainer comprises a recess surrounding said slot.
 16. The hinge assembly according to claim 15 wherein said washer means comprises a plurality of washers, each washer being receivable by said retainer and each washer having a bore therethrough, at least two washers having differently offset bolt receiving bores therethrough.
 17. The hinge assembly according to claim 16 wherein said recess is oblong and each washer includes as oblong shape receivable by the recess.
 18. The hinge assembly according to claim 17 wherein the washer bores are differently offset along a longitudinal axis of each washer.
 19. The hinge assembly according to claim 18 further comprising a slot, washer, and bolt covering cap.
 20. The hinge assembly according to claim 19 wherein the cap is hingeable attachment to said cap.
 21. A method for attaching a toilet seat to a toilet bowl, said toilet bowl having spaced apart mounting hole therein, said method comprising: providing a plate; providing a member fixed to said toilet seat, said member being pivotably received by said plate; providing a slot disposed in said plate and sized for slidably receiving a toilet bowl mounting bolt therethrough; providing a retainer disposed proximate said slot; and providing a plurality of washers, receivable by said retainer, for enabling attachment of said toilet seat to said toilet bowl with forward and backward adjustment. 